The Darlington College students were under orders to produce a seafood paella and chocolate brownie dessert against the clock in a 90 minute ready, steady, cook type challenge. Chefs Leading Hand Emmanuel Craig and Able Rating Drusilla Clarke, from the Royal Navy’s Logistics Catering Services, were on hand to help the students with their high pressure task and taste-test their culinary offerings.
They also gave the students an insight into life in the Royal Navy, serving around the world on land and sea, including the Baltics, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Africa and South Georgia.
For L2 pastry and confectionery student Tom Dunn, 18, of Newton Aycliffe, it was the ideal opportunity to question the chefs on life in the military as he hopes to serve in the Royal Marines one day.
He said: “I have already worked in retail and kitchens and it seems to me that the Royal Marines would offer me something fresh. It was really useful to me being able to talk and work alongside people who are already serving in the Royal Navy.”
Darlington College lecturer Dawn Cobb-Neate said: “We are really grateful to the chefs for coming in to give our students an insight into the opportunities in the Armed Forces. They loved working with them and were inspired to produce some really great food under the pressure of competition and time. It was great to watch the students grow into the competition and seeing how they rose to the challenges of leadership and adapting to unfamiliar surroundings in our skills kitchen, which gave them an accurate taste of what life will be like in the industry.”
For more information on opportunities and events at Darlington College visit www.darlington.ac.uk
Photo: L2 pastry and confectionary student Tom Dunn, 18, of Newton Aycliffe, who wants to become a Royal Marine, makes brownies under the watchful eye of Royal Navy chef Drusilla Clarke.